How to Make Mirepoix

How to Make Mirepoix

"Mirepoix" sounds ultra fancy, but it's simply the French word for the chopped and sauteed combination of onions, celery, and carrots. It's the base of so many soups, stews, and sauces in many classic cuisines that people also call it "the holy trinity." Trader Joe's carries mirepoix, chopped and ready in the produce section. The chopping is not difficult if you do it yourself, but using the ready-to-use mirepoix makes this recipe even easier. To make your own mirepoix, chop 1 cup onion (about 1 medium onion), 1 cup celery, and 1 cup carrot. Saute it in 1 Tbsp olive oil until onions are soft, and you've got the start for many soups, sauces, and stews such as our Greek Chicken Stew, Mulligatawny, or Bountiful Bean Soup.

Another version of mirepoix is the very Southern, very New Orleans combination of onion, celery, and green bell pepper which is called the "Cajun Trinity, "Cajun mirepoix," or simply "trinity." No matter what you call it, this combination is the heart of so many dishes in New Orleans such as Shrimp Creole.